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XitcbfielD, Connecticut 

BY 
The REV. WILLIAM J. BREWSTER, Rector. 



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Delivered at the time of the last Sunday Service 
in the Third Church Building on the old site, June 
29th, 1919, the building being on rollers preparatory 
for the moving. 



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MUG I m^ 






This is none other but the house of God, and this is 
the gate of heaven. — Gen. 28 :17. 

Human nature is most susceptible to association. That is 
\\-hy Ave love our homes, our country ; that is why we here love 
this church. The kind of association connected Mith a place 
or building molds the feelings in regard to it. Every people 
loves and holds sacred its place of worship. It is a universal 
trait of human character. The presence of God we worship 
sanctifies even the very ground we are on. 

On this last Sunday of our worship in this bulding on this 
holy ground it seemed that a brief review of the facts con- 
nected with the early history of St. Michael's Parish, and this 
building especially, Avould be interesting to all here. They 
are part of the reasons for our regard for this place. The 
other reasons are personal. Most of these personal reasons 
no tongue can tell, especially mine. My associations are 
tender; much more yours of two generations length. What I 
am about to relate may be an old story to some, but to a 
younger generation new, and to all at least a reminder of the 
making and growth of St. Michael's, Litchfield— our inherit 
ance. This survey of one hundred and seventy-four years must 
necessarily be brief. 

From a record privately penned in the Bible of Mrs. 
Deborah Plumb, who was the first child baptized according to 
the Church service in Litchfield, we learn of a meeting Novem- 
ber 5, 1745, when thirteen heads of families met and decided 
to confoi-m to the Church of England in Litchfield. ]Mr. John 
Davies, a native of England, was under God the father of St. 
Michael's parish. He gave it its name, and his money and 
devotion were instrumental in erecting the first church build- 
ing in the spring of 1749. That first building Avas about one 
mile west of the present center of this village, the exact loca- 
tion not being known. In the lease of the land on which the 
church was built, from :Mr. Davies to the "Society for the Pro- 
pagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts" was this peculiar 
price of the rental, viz: "Yielding and paying therefor one 



peppercorn aninially, at or upon the feast of St. Michael, the 
Archangel, if lawfully demanded." From this circumstance, 
Mr. Davies insisted that the name should he St. Michael's. A 
tablet to the memory of Mr. Davies is near the chancel of this 
church. 

The first building was used for worship until December, 
1812, Avhen the second building of the parish was completed 
on the present site, the land being given by Samuel Marsh, Esq. 
This second church was probably about three years in building 
but was finally completed and used in 1812, ])ut not conse- 
crated until 1824. 

We have the subscription paper Avhich was used in collect- 
ing the funds for the second church building in 1809-1812, also 
a copy of a sketch of the building made by Dr. Crane, of 
Waterbury, in 1842. Before this, in October, 1784. the Revolu- 
tionary War having intervened and the indenpendence of the 
United States following, there was organized the First Episco- 
pal Society of Litchfield, according to the laws of the State of 
Connecticut. This society is the legal organization composed 
of St. Michael's, Litchfield, St. Paul's. Bantam, and Trinity. 
Milton. In 1884 was duly celebrated the one Inindredtli anni- 
versary of this event. 

In 1850, a meeting was called to consider the condition of 
the church. It needed repairs badly and also enlarging to 
meet the growing needs of the parish. It was then decided 
advisable to build a new church. The old building was sold 
for .$300, and taken down in the spring of 1851. TJev. Truman 
Marsh, at eighty-four years of age, saw the church, built in 
his early reetorate, demolished. He died before tlie new church 
was built, and was buried from the Congregational Church.. 
Bishop Brownell officiating. 

The corner stone of this church we are now in was laid 
July 15, 1851; it was completed December 10, 1851: and conse- 
crated December 16, 1851. 

It is not known what tlie first church building cost, nor of 
what style it was. The one built in 1809-1812 cost $1,600. This 
present building cost $6,408, or complete Avith carpet, funiture, 
etc., $7,241, and M-as ready for occupancy six months from the 
laying of the corner stone. 

On April 11, 1894, in a strong east wind, the steeple blew 
over, and the cross bei\ig broken in the trees, the point of the 



spire penetrated about three feet into the ground opposite the 
entrance, and the part about thirty feet long finally swayed 
against the Chureli, doing no further damage than breaking 
one light of glass. In 1881 the galleries were removed. In 
1882 the reredoes and wainscoating were put in the chancel; 
also the chaneol rail and the brass tablet in memory of tlie 
three Rectors of the parish Avhose lives were ended in Litch- 
field— Rev. Solomon Palmer, Rev. Truman Marsh, and Rev. 
Isaac Jones. In 1857, tlie widow of Rev. Mr. Marsh gave the 
present Rectory, and the chapel Avas built. 

The history of two chairs in the chancel is interesting. 
They were the property of Oliver Wolcott, Jr. He was treas- 
urer of tlie United States, succeeding Alexander Hamilton. 
1785-1800. The chairs were brought from Philadelphia to 
Litchfield in 1812 witli his other household effects. He was 
Governor of Connecticut. 1818-1827. Having later become the 
property of his son, Dr. John S. Wolcott, and in bad repair, 
tliey Avcre secured by Mr. D. C. Buckley (fathei- of Edward 
Buckley), repaired and placed in the chancel of the second 
church building in 1837. Mr. Buckley also made the chair 
used as the Bishop's Chair for many years, until the new one 
was given by Mr. and Mrs. Francis Wells, of Philadelphia, in 
1882. In 1874 the font was given in memory of Gerard S. 
Wiggin. In 1879 the window in memory of :\Iiss Maria Sey- 
mour was put in by the Sunday School. In 1881 the 
window in memory of Dr. A. S. Lewis, and in 1882 the one in 
memory of Hon. O. S. Seymour, L.L.D., Avere given. In 1884 
v,-as placed t]ie Hosea AVebster window. In 1886, the Alms 
basin and two offertory plates, in memory of Mrs. Clarinda 
Ilan-ison Sanford, were given by her son. In 1887, at Christ- 
mas, the altar was given by Mrs. X. R. Childs. In 1888 and '89 
the altar cloths were embroidered by Mrs. L. P. Bissell. In 
1889 the window in memory of Mrs. Hornblower was given, 
and in 1892 the brass lecturn in memory of Webster Belden. 
In 1892 the Prayer Desk, in memory of Mrs. Sarah Brush 
Duffie, was given by her son. In 1893 the Pulpit was given in 
memory of Hon. Edward W. Seymour and in 1893 the window 
in his memory was given both by his widoAV. In 1895 the St. 
Michael's Avindow in memory of Miss Caroline and Miss Celeste 
Parmalee Avas placed in the chancel. In 1895, XoA'cmber 5, there 



was an appropriate celebration of the 150th anniversary of the 
founding of the Parish. In 1911 the present organ was given 
in memory of Hon. Edward W. Seymour, On Ascension Day, 
1914, was dedicated the window to Mrs. Mary Seymour, given 
by her many friends. In 1917 tlie window in memory of Mr, 
and Mrs. William G, Walbridge was given. In 1917 the 
National and State flags in memory of Charlotte Sanford Sey- 
mour were given by her grandparents. And now we mu.st 
chronicle the largest gift in the history of the Parish. Mr. 
Henry R. Towne has offered to build, and the vestry has 
accepted, a stone church in memory of his wife, Cora M. Towne. 
It came as a great surprise to us all last winter, just when the 
Vestry had voted a committee on a Church Building Fund, 
knowing that soon the present building must be replaced. We 
all hope "Sir. Towne may see his plans fully accomplished. A 
fund has been started and will be added to from time to time 
until large enough to build the proposed Storrs 0. Seymour 
Memorial Parish House. 

To single out a few names as worthy of especial mention 
in the life of this Parish of 174 years may be unfair. But little 
doubt has ever been expressed that in the beginning ]\Ir. John 
Davies, Mr. Landon and Mr. Griswold were the real founders 
of the parish. Among others, Mr. Moses Seymour, Mr. Eph- 
raim Kirby, Hon. Seth P. Beers, Hon. 0. S. Seymour, Dr. J. G. 
Beckwith, Dr. Algernon S. Lewis, Hon, Edward AV. Seymour 
.should be mentioned. 

Among the Rectors it is interesting to mention Rev. Ash- 
bel Baldwin ; a native of Litchfield who was ordained Deacon 
by Bishop Seabury at Middletown, August 3, 1783, at the first 
Episcopal ordination in this eountrj^, and he was the first to be 
ordained ; and was the first Rector under the organization of 
the First Episcopal Society of Litchfield. 

The Rectors who have officiated in this Church building 
are: Rev. J. J. Brandigee, 1851-54; Rev. Junius M. Willcy, 
1855-58; Rev, Henry N. Hudson, 1858-60, (the Shakespearian 
scholar) ; Rev. William S. Southgate, 1860-64; Rev, William S. 
Perry, 1864-69, (afterwards Bishop of Iowa) ; Rev, 'C. S. Henry, 
1870-73; Rev. G. M. Wilkins, 1874-79; Rev. S. 0. Seymour. 
1879-83; Rev. L. P. Bissell, 1884-93; when Rev. S, 0. Seymour 
again became Rector until 1916. He was Rector altogether 



twenty-seven years and Rector Emeritus tAvo years, five 
moutlis, until his death in September, 1918. All of these have 
passed to their reward, hut we may well say "their works do 
follow them." 

We have brought to mind some of the material and per- 
sonal interests wliieh are important in the life of a Parish. In 
1895, when the Parish celebrated its 150th anniversary, Bishop 
Williams sent the following letter which beautifully empha- 
sizes the spiritual influences which cluster about this Paiish, 
and we know about this Church building, for those now 
living. "'The contrast between the then of 150 years ago and 
the now is most striking, and one thought comes to me con- 
stantly in connection with thcvse anniversaries — the perma- 
nency of the Parishes. Go back 150 years and think of all the 
changes that have come in the world, with its dynasties, its 
nations, its wars, its advances, and then remember that in all 
these years, as they piled themselves up in human history, the 
same worship, the same teaching, pastoral charge, parochial 
ministrations have gone on hei-e in a quiet round of duty, and 
\vhat a view is presented to us ! How many have been received 
into the Church of God by baptism, how many have come to 
receive the "laying on of hands," hoA\' many have knelt in the 
Holy Eucharist, hoAv many cries of penitent sorrow have gone 
up to the ears of God, hoAv many have had the peace of the 
Comforter sent to them, over how many have the blessed woi-ds 
that speak of the victory over death been spoken ! It were 
easy to go on with thoughts like these, but each will have 
them, I am sure, in mind. Thankful then for all the past, 
rejoincing in the present, hopeful for the future, let us all say 
in our hearts and with our lips "not unto us, Lord, not unto 
us, but unto thy name be the praise," "The Lord our God l)e 
with us as he was -w-ith our Fathers." 

This fabric, perishable, is noAv to be replaced by an 
imperishable stone structure, and Ave believe the closing verse 
of the poem by a former Rector's Avife prophetic : 

"As all that live must die and rise again 
In fairer guise our Church will live once more 
To celebrate with youth renewed and fresh 
Full many a glad and glorious Easter Day." 

God grant we may all see the fulfillment of this prophecy. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRtSS 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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Consa^vation Resources 
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